Kathryn Laurentis is uncovering the hidden stories of women in engineering history; the inventors and trailblazing graduates who helped shape the modern world but were too often left out of the story. Through her postgrad research, Kathryn is bringing these engineers back into the spotlight and showing how engineering has always been about more than just gears and gadgets; it’s been powered by creativity, courage, and collaboration.

With an early love of making and designing, Kathryn is a Chemical Engineer and Mathematician who has forged a career in natural resources. A born problem solver with a passion for thinking big, Kathryn has been involved in multi-million-dollar energy and mining projects, helped improve operations at sites around the world, and is passionate about developing natural resources responsibly as we move toward a cleaner energy future.

Outside work, Kathryn champions diversity in STEM. She leads a statewide network for women in sustainability, sits on boards for science and arts organisations, and advises museums on initiatives to share the incredible role engineers play in our world. She’s a Fellow of Engineers Australia and an international marathon runner, the coolest of which was in Antarctica.